" The house that we're gonna visit is known as the Jackson homestead and -- it is now in its current iteration a classic federal facade but it. Its origins are really back in the 1670s and there's still an ell that dates to that colonial era let's meet. David Olson the director of the historical society."

" After the Jackson thank you. The Jackson family is very old name here in Newton in the sixteen hundreds the Jackson family moved to what was then Cambridge. And purchased this land. And in 1670 they built a wonderful saltbox house on the property right next -- to the federal house that we're in right now so it's the the ell on the side of this federal house is part of the original 1670 structure we believe it's part of it's the lean to on the back of that saltbox that was that captain used for storage and a carriage house. And -- can still see some of the original -- in that hell but others were used in the basement to help support the chimneys that you'll find in the house. We've got four chimney stacks in this federal style house. And each of them is supported by some of the old 1670 beams. On the basement they're very unusual construction and cutting I've never seen before. That it seems to be very effective they're still standing a major change from the colonial where they had the central massive chimney to the federal where they have at least. Appear not four lateral action right that's and is moved out from the Senate the house to the it to the ends. And density of prime example of that here now getting back to the jacksons did they make their fortune in the China trade or what business were they started out as farmers in the sixteen hundreds and all of this land was farmland from here on Washington street all the way back to the Charles River was on by the Jackson family. And the early eighteen hundred's about the time they built this house they started to manufacture candles. And the claim to fame for the Jackson family candles was that they were hard candles that would withstand the heat. And what we're in doing well where in New England have -- they would ship their candles to South America. Where it was very hard to keep candles because how candles would melt very easily in the heat. And they developed a process where that could make hard candles which would stand up to this the southern heat. And that's how they made their fortune Yankee ingenuity Yankee ingenuity and say they were also very ingenious and could see opportunity. When the railroad was planning to come through this area. William Jackson actually sold land right up front of the house right along what is now the mass height. For the railroad the Boston to Worcester railroad. And that way you had a way to get his candles into Boston and then supposed to replace the south. To market and Boston Harbor race race he also was very if he was able to get commuters to make their way out here to Newton. And later in the eighteen hundreds hee yes so this is one of the first suburban developments. Here in Newton. Walnut park which is so just on the streets here so -- was a real entrepreneur you really notice the eighteen O nine house that we're in we're standing in front of wonderful hearth display and much of what's here it's it's not a house museum it's really a tool for teaching history it is it is in 1950 the house was given by the Jackson family. To the city of Newton and that the city of Newton opened it up as a history museum. And more recently we've gone from just looking at the Jackson family to looking at all of Newton's history and so we now do changing exhibits on all aspects of Newton history from native Americans right it was -- is this a re creation or is this the actually you know nine -- this is the actual eighteen on nine brickwork. The paneling and woodwork that is around the fireplace was recreated in 1950s and this is which -- crane right yes and that would swing out so that the housewife could. Work on the pots and then push it back over the fire for things to -- Now one last question is it true that there was an underground railroad abolitionist and stop here yes it is William Jackson and his brother Francis were both abolitionist. And Francis lived in Boston. And William Jackson moved. Slaves here along the railroad which he helped to build out to Worcester and then out to Albany and up into Canada interest. And what are some of the exhibits that are here right now -- some -- different things that got a wonderful map exhibit called rivers roads and rails which looks at the development of Newton. From its early origins as a -- part of Cambridge right up until it's incorporation as a city. We have an exhibit it's called stuff worth remembering. Its stuff from your grandmother's attic. Things that's news onions have been saved and collected in the twentieth century. We have permanent exhibits down on my lower level which look at the whole history of Newton from the native American settlements here. And in the early seventeen hundred's all the way up salute the abolition movement in the 1840s and fifties. And finally our newest exhibit is an exhibit on gentleman named Charles Maynard who lived just down the street on craft street. He was an early ornithologist and studied birds along the lines -- And was very talented in drawing and studying birds. And and it's real contributions to study of quality a fabulous place to visit thanks to thank you for coming."